title: Work-related non-crash heavy vehicle driver fatalities in Australia, 2000-9.
abstract: The objective of this study was to describe the nature and mechanisms of a case series of Australian work-related non-crash heavy vehicle driver fatalities. The study used existing population-based mortality data on non-crash work-related heavy vehicle (gross vehicle mass >4.5 t) driver fatalities reported to Australian coroners between 2000 and 2009. There were 47 fatalities with a mean age of 46.5 years. Available toxicology detected that six of 16 drivers consumed illegal drugs or alcohol. The most frequent task was attending to cargo (n=22, 47%); 31 (66%) fatalities occurred when the driver was working alone. Brake issues (n=21, 45%) were the most frequent contributing factor, and crushing the most common mechanism (n=33, 70%), particularly between the vehicle and another object (n=22, 47%). Fatalities occurred in most jurisdictions averaging 4.7 per year overall. A large number of truck drivers die performing non-driving tasks. Crushing following vehicle rolling accounts for almost 50% of fatalities. Considering this pathway may provide prevention opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Unit, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. christopher.b.jones@monash.edu
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ozanne-Smith
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult